Los Angeles Lakers sign veteran F Metta World Peace

The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Metta World Peace on Thursday to a reported one-year, non-guaranteed contract.

World Peace, known as Ron Artest before changing his name in 2011, is the 19th player on Los Angeles' roster. Teams are allowed to carry 20 players in training camp.

The 35-year-old has been a presence at Lakers practices this offseason while mentoring forward Julius Randle, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 draft who sustained a broken leg in his first game.

"It's great to have him go against Julius. To watch those two guys practice, it's almost comical," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "I'm not sure who gets the better of it. I would be surprised if either player admitted to anybody after practice that they hurt more than they did before practice."

World Peace played for Los Angeles between 2009-13 and won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2010. He also played for the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, and he holds career averages of 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 33 minutes over 931 games (833 starts).

World Peace, 35, was the 16th pick in the 1999 draft by Chicago and was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2003-04. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team four times.

He last appeared in the NBA during the 2013-14 season, when he played 29 games for the Knicks. World Peace since played in the Chinese Basketball Association and in Italy's top division.